Kenzan-style incense container with design of maple leaves and pampas grass

Object Details

• Artist

  Imitation of Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743)

  Kyoto workshop

• Description

  Clay: dense, resonant, buff stoneware.

  Glaze: transparent, crackled, over white slip; unglazed area stained blackish-brown.

  Decoration: in cobalt blue, under glaze: linear patterns representing maple leaves and water or pampas grass; geometric bands on sides of lid and base.

  Square seal on underside of lid.

• Marks

  Square seal "Kenzan" on underside of lid.

• Provenance

  Mr. Funahashi, Kyoto [1]

  To 1903

  Bunkio Matsuki (1867-1940), Boston, to 1903 [2]

  From 1903 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bunkio Matsuki in 1903 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] Curatorial Remarks, Louise A. Cort, 1986: Freer acquired, through Matsuki, five pieces from the Funahashi collection (F1903.275--F1903.279). An undated "List of Shipment" from Matsuki (Matsuki letter no. 30) gives the following: "Following five important pottery are from the sale of Late Mr. Funahashi of Kioto famous wholesale silk dealer for many generation. The sale was under the management of Mr. Shinsuke Hayashi from whom your great Sotatsu screen came."

  [2] See Original Pottery List, L. 1279, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Freer: A Taste for Japanese Art (July 1, 2006 to January 1, 2007)

  The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics (December 9, 2001 to October 27, 2002)

  Ceramics by Ogata Kenzan (October 9, 1980 to October 30, 1980)

  Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Funahashi

  Bunkio Matsuki 松木文恭 (1867-1940) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1890s, 1860s

• Name

  Funahashi, Freer, Charles Lang, Matsuki, Bunkio

• Place

  Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto prefecture

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Incense, Japanese Art, Ceramics, Meiji era (1868 - 1912)

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Containers